HAPPY 50TH BRIDGE CITY

I was there every step of the way. It just doesn't seem possible all those years have gone by. The city, despite many setbacks, has come a long way and is no longer the little country town it was when it became a city. I love the dear folks and gentle people who make up our hometown. See Down Life's Highway column for a little bit of history.*****I must move along. Hop on board and come along, it won't do you no harm.

PAYING THE PRICE FOR POORLY MANAGED CRISIS

A few weeks ago I wrote in this column that "It ain't over till it's over." My concern was that the worse was yet to come. I was really disappointed in Texas Governor Abbott, after being egged on by Trump, throwing the state wide open. Abbott has to share in the blame of what happened next. Covid-19 is like a wildfire in Texas. Trump pressured all governors in Red States to open for the sake of the economy. I had said, "God forbid if Trump is elected and we will face a major crisis under this guy's leadership. Today, all those Red States, like Florida, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, etc., are all in deep water as the virus spreads and hospitals fill. John Bolton, in his book, says Trump has one goal, to get re-elected, even if it cost 500,000 American lives. No president could have done a worse job in protecting the citizens. Trump was in total denial for 70 days then he claimed it wasn't his responsibility. He then turned it over to the governors without a national plan. It was like 50 different countries doing their own thing. Some states did better than the states that followed Trump and ended up in deep dodo. Even today, after three million people with the virus and over 130,000 deaths, Trump said yesterday, "99 percent of the virus is totally harmless." Truth is many who didn't die will suffer lifelong effects. Here is the difference in national leadership. On day one Canada's President Trudeau shut the entire country down for six weeks. Today Canada is wide open with no virus. Canadians are living normal lives while our worse days are still ahead of us strictly because of poor national leadership. The pandemic is deadly; many more of us will die; many more will contact the virus. It spares no one; we have had cases in country government, sheriff's employees, city government, etc. You can't pretend its not here and you can't deny it kills people, mostly older people but their lives are important also. Think about how many family members have been affected by the death of a relative. Take an average of just five people per family and you come up with 650,000 folks directly affected. Then you have a bubble head like Trump on the soap box saying, "It's totally harmless." Republican states following Trump's misinformation, will find themselves in trouble at the ballot box on Nov. 3. Ready or not, Trump will pressure governors to open schools. If we would have had a real leader when the first case came to the U.S. today it would all be behind us. The blame goes to the top and to the governors who bent to his pressure. The strange thing about contacting this virus is that no one seems to know how they caught it. This proves it's air-borne, you can't be careful enough. We can all protect each other by wearing mask and avoiding hand and body contact. Also we need to impress the importance to young people that their action could cost their parents and grandparents their lives. I've lost friends already and I fear more yet to come.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2010

Back in 2003, the 2001 redistricting plan for state and federal districts was removed. The new plan, gerrymandering the district lines, was put in place. Orange County, for the first time ever, was cut in two state representative districts. Bridge City, West Orange and the City of Orange are represented by two state representatives, splitting the cities in half without a single voice of representation. The three mentioned cities are tied to Jefferson County. The other half is tied to Hardin and Newton counties. Orange County and Newton County have enough population to have both in one whole district, rather then being fragmented.*****Everywhere we went this past week everyone was still talking about the death of "Buckshot" Winfree. The autopsy report stated he had died of a heart attack. J.B. Arrington came by our office to visit about him. He told a couple of stories Buck always wanted him to tell. He says he told those same stories at least 100 times and Buckshot enjoyed them each time, just like when he had first heard them. Buckshot was a people's person who loved to hear real life events in the lives of people. Roy told some of Buck's favorite stories at his funeral. He once told Roy he should put all his stories in a book. Roy responded, only country folks would enjoy them and there aren't enough of them left to pay the printing. By the way, last week we said he had never lost a political race. We were wrong. Rusty Granger defeated him for one term and Buckshot won the position back and never looked back.*****Congrats to Bridge City Little League 11-12 year olds who won the District 32 championship, going 4-0. They advance to Sectionals in Jasper July 14-15. Also deserving of congratulations are the BCLL Jr. girls who also won district and will be competing in sectionals Saturday in Channelview. Go get 'em Cards.*****Jeff Bagwell takes over as Astros hitting coach after the firing of Sean Berry. Bagwell will join the team Thursday in Pittsburgh. He had 449 home runs, 1,529 RBI's and was a four-time All Star for Houston. Fans love Bagwell.*****Singer Carrie Underwood, who apparently likes athletes, married NHL player Mike Fisher Saturday. Carrie, 27, was the fourth winner of American Idol, and at one time in a relationship with Cowboy Tony Romo.*****We were sorry to hear that Betsy Huckaby is now in the hands of Hospice. Hospice is a great organization that helps patients through the final days.***** It's hard to believe that on July 17, three years have gone by since our buddy A.J. Broussard went to be with the Lord. His sister Vivian Dorman has also passed away.*****Some of our friends still kicking and celebrating birthdays this week are Tommy Harmon and Edee Pratt. A sweet lady, Peggy Claybar, Bill Stringer's beautiful daughter and David's longtime wife marks another one.*****Calvin Rutledge, Dee's better half and a cool guy who goes with the flow, will celebrate next week.*****Ella Stuebing, ex-principle, having another birthday. She and Terry are enjoying retirement.*****Don Fields is a year older. So is Melissa Eshbach.***** In the last few weeks the natives have been on the go. Here are a few trips we heard about. Since Rob Straus was elected constable, he had promised his wife Capt. Janois, a cruise trip. Finally he got around to it. It was a disappointment. The hurricane in the Gulf messed that up.*****Dayle and Stump Weatherford attended the Lion's International Convention down under, in Australia, a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles with 800 people on board the aircraft.  Dayle says it was nice but she wouldn't make that long trip again.*****Betty and Corky Harmon flew to Taos and Santa Fe. The plane was diverted from Albuquerque to Phoenix. They didn't care much for Taos but loved Santa Fe.*****Judge Joe Parkhurst and Gayle again drove to Las Vegas. That's a lot of time on the road but each trip is interesting.*****Sheriff Keith Merritt and Marlene also drove to Vegas to bring his brother some of his late dad's possessions. He said he enjoyed the drive so much he would never fly it again.*****Judge Derry and Jane Dunn flew to Portland, Oregon to attend the a reception for son Dr. Mark Dunn. That part of the country is beautiful this time of year. *****Mayor T.W. and Lyndia Permenter drove to Kentucky to return their granddaughter whose husband is in the service.***** Saturday is going to be a big day on MacArthur Drive Circle. Al Granger is having a big party celebrating the 30th anniversary of Automart. It's not a sale, it's an event with many prizes and games plus one of my favorite entertainers, Britt Godwin, will perform. There is no one in the music industry today that is more versatile. For several years he was on the road with Tracy Byrd then came home to live. A radio remote live on KOGT with Gary Stelly will take place also.*****George Steinbrenner, age 80, died of a heart attack Tuesday. The New York Yankee owner spent $200 million a year in salaries to build a Yankee team that was the best. That didn't always work out. You either loved or hated the Yankees but George ruled with an iron fist.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

OBITUARY 10 Years Ago-2010

Flora Glynn Durham Gisclar, 82, of Bridge City, passed away Sunday, July 4. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 9. She graduated from Orange High School, attended Port Arthur Business College. She was married 60 years to her high school sweetheart, Jack Robert Gisclar and raised five children. She was survived by her sons, Jackie Glenn Gisclar, Curney Lynn Gisclar, Mark Devane Gisclar; daughter, Dariah Ann Gisclar; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

40 Years Ago-1980

On Sunday, July 6, Bud and Tillie Mulholland lost their lives in an auto accident. They were returning to Bridge City from the beach, traveling on old Hwy. 87.*****Louis and Beth Dugas are the proud grandparents of a new grandson, born in Waco, July 6. His name is William Claiborne Dugas, named after his father Clay. Mother Nina and baby, who weighed in at nine pounds, 11 ounces, are doing fine. Beth and Louis now have three grandsons and one granddaughter. (Editor's note: They are both dead now. Clay lives in Beaumont and I don't know what became of baby Claiborne, now 40 years old.)*****Carl and Mike Thibodeaux are expecting another child in September. "Mike," she is big pregnant her."*****Phyllis and Roy Dunn's mothers celebrated birthdays this week. Ms. Amy, Phyl's mom, on July 9, Roy's mom Marie, celebrates on July 12. (Editor's note: Both lost their mothers a few years ago.)*****James Fontenot presents a new bike to Stephen Patterson on behalf of Shoe Castle and Stride Rite Shoes. Stephen won the Motorcross bike after registering for the give-away while buying a pair of Stride Rite shoes.*****Two years ago, Joe Kazmar's mom took up golf. On the Fourth of July she made a hole-in-one. She used her driver on a par three, 160 yard hole.*****Orange's Andre Robertson is hitting .250 with Columbus, of the International League. He was promoted from class A at Fort Lauderdale, to class AAA in Columbus by the New York Yankees. (Editor's note: Andre was brought up to the Yankees where he became a starter for several seasons. Today, Andre is employed at DuPont in Orange. He still remains our Yankee and is talked about 40 years later.)*****Scott Turkel turns seven years old on July 17. He is the son of Richard and Arlene. (Editor's note: The Turkel's have another son, Russell and are now grandparents. Arlene is now Doctor Turkel. Time moves on.)*****Over 300 people attended the annual fish fry held by the W.T. Olivers. A few in attendance were Martha and Bill Hughes, Barbara and Charles Nixon, June and Earl Bishop, Tim Lieby, Roy and Phyl Dunn, Don Borman, Mary Ann and G.C. Fells and Chris Allen just to name a few.*****It's the maiden voyage for Roy Bendy's "Miss Brandy" which was launched this week. The tug was built by Watson Bayou Builders.*****Ann Craft has been named as chairman of the sixth annual Gumbo Cookoff.*****Happy birthday this week to Rusty Nicks and also Jessie Brown. (Editor's note: Both have since passed away.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

I'm glad to hear that Judge Gothia and Commissioner Trahan are feeling better. Someone said, "Johnny's case was bigger." Well he's a big boy.***We were sorry to learn that our longtime friend Norris Brandon has been hospitalized with Covid-19. Like John and Johnny he has no idea how he caught it. He had been home bound and hadn't been anywhere. He was turned out of hospital at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday due to lack of bed space.***Roy's sister Fay and husband Louis are in quarantine after their daughter-in-law tested positive for the virus.***We understand Brad, David and Mary are all doing better. Cases are on the rise in Orange County and some people are very high risk.*****On a brighter note, Constable Brad Frye assumed office last week. His office was bare of any equipment which he hopes to get soon. Frye is looking at some good experience folks to serve as his deputies. Longtime lawman George Navarro, who was BCISD police chief for years, David Soileau, longtime Bridge City policeman retired and Elton Browning, retired Orange fire marshal. That would give Pct. 3 a Fire Marshall at no extra cost.***** Just a few folks we know celebrating birthdays in the next few days. July 8: This date finds KeeKee and Nancy's pretty daughter Elizabeth celebrating.*****July 9 would have been Ms. Phyl's mother Amy's birthday, born in 1911.*****July 10: Our longtime friend Donna Riely celebrates. We recall when she was a teenager now she's retired from BCISD. Also having a birthday on this day is Kori Brown.*****July 11: Hard to believe that Dayle Gunn Weatherford, a beautiful lady, turns 77 today. Cleon Hogan is also a year older today.****July 12: Some special ladies celebrate today are Christy Kroury, Sue Bearden, Lana Griffith and Josette Webb. This would also have been Roy's mom Marie's birthday, born in 1917.*****July 13: Coach Billy Bryant celebrates today on the 50th anniversary of Bridge City. Billy is a native. Also this would have been the late Ms. Ginny's birthday.*****July 14: On this day in 1881, Billy the Kid killed Pat Garrett. That was an interesting time in our history of the West.*****The President, as he has since February, continued to insist that the virus will simply disappear. Trump claimed, "We've learned how to put out the flame" even though U.S. cases are on a record upward pace. In two speeches Trump continued to lie to the American people. What a travesty.*****I spoke with Judge Pete Runnels on his birthday, July 3. He sounds good but it was hard to get any other information about him. I'll try again.*****Charlie Daniels, 83, died July 6. His signature song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," is an all time hit.*****Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters that Texas is definitely in play in November elections. Sen. John Cornyn must also think so. He has spent $12 million and doesn't know who his opponent will be yet. He's betting that it will be MJ Hegar, the female candidate, not Sen. Royce West, a Black candidate. Cornyn is hoping to pick up some Black votes against Hegar. Would you have believed a year ago that Cornyn would march in a "Black Lives Matter" parade in Beaumont? Also unbelievable is that Cornyn has gone as far as introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate making Juneteen a national holiday. Cornyn, like other GOP senators, is putting some distance between them and Trump who is being crushed in the polls. Trump is now taking a divisive stand pitting his White Supremacist base and other Americans.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS

Celebrating birthdays on July 8 are Amber Seiler, Anita Hennigan.*****July 9: Eryn Lucas, Janice Gresham, Liz Barclay and Clark Eastman.*****July 10: Kathy Fraccastoro, Paula Auffurth, Corrine Welker.*****July 11: Michael Brinson, Miranda Welker, Charlotte Stout.*****July 12: Larissa Barclay, Terry Meyer, Craig Simmons, Dawanna Landry.*****July 13: Marsha McCullough, Mary Morton, Rodney and George Millsap.*****July 14: Joe Rion, Lance George, Ledia Miller and Malani Woodruff.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Chris Premeaux owns a small grocery market in Henry, a few miles out in the country from Erath. Ms. Eula Comeaux walks in and say, "Good morning Oris, me, I need to buy a fresh hen."

Oris him keeps his fresh chickens in an igloo box filled with ice. He dugs around in dat box and cames up with a chicken. "Dis one, Ms. Comeaux, weighs two and a half pounds, Oris say."

She answered, "Me, I'd like to have one bigger dan dat."

Oris him, he put da chicken back in dat ice water and stir it around. "Lord, dats da only chicken I got left, he say to himself." 

He brings dat same one out, dripping wet and says, "Ms. Comeaux, dis one weighs nearly four pounds."

She answer, "Dat's good Oris, but as I jus tink about it, I'm going to have company, Edna Mae and her families is coming. I'm going to buy boat dem chickens. Warp dem up please.

C'EST TOUT

Kanye again considers presidential post

There is no evidence that Kanye West, rapper, businessman, record producer, social activist, preacher, married to Kim Kardashan and friend of Donald Trump, is running for president. West has no campaign organization nor is there any indication he has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission, just four months before the Nov. 3, election. The filing for Independent presidential candidate in many states has passed or coming up soon. Deadlines have passed in Texas, North Carolina, New York, Maine, New Mexico and Indiana. The last deadlines are two months away and candidates have to get thousands of people to sign petitions in each state to get on the ballot. If he makes the ballot in only a few states, a big if, he could conceivably take Black votes from Joe Biden to the benefit of Trump. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted to Kanye, "You have my full support." West, being a celebrity is a major asset. Think about this, He has the money and fans to mount a legitimate write-in campaign. Young Black voters, particularly under 24 years old, would be most likely drawn to the "celebrity effect," and vote for West. Something for the Biden campaign to think about is that this is not the first time Kanye has made waves about being president but any vote he would get would benefit his friend Trump.*****That's all my time. Take care, stay indoors, stay safe. God bless.